Swaging tool for tubes



Patented Jan. 5, 1943 l 4pourrai) 'STATES PATENT ,l ,ortica Charles F. Tuttle, Richmond, Calif., assgnor to` v Standard Oil Company' of California, Sang-' Francisco, Calif., a corporation of'Delaware Application March 23 1941, serial No.l 385,725

11 claims. tomos-'5)- This invention relates to apparatus for reduclarged end of the tube to befs'waged. Within the ing the diameter of a metal tube and particularly holder is positioned la circular die, which may to one which is adapted to be used in a restricted lbe a plurality of segments adapted to be expanded location and to be placed over the exposed end while the die holder is placed over the tube and of a tube which has been enlarged for a short v5A then contracted to surround the tube closely at distance along its length by machining or rolling a point removed from itsouter end where the operations and Whose diameter is to be reduced -diameter of ythe tube is substantially normal. substantially to its original value. *Means are provided to draw this assembly out- In that part of the petroleum distillation art wardly over the I-enlarged end of the tube, conwhich utilizes tubular heaters or furnaces, and 10. stricting it and causing the metal to now back particularly in the case of certain types of alloy to its original dimensions.

steel tubes, the ends of the tubes which are lIt is an object o f thisinvention to provide an' rolled or expanded into junction boxes or retum improvedl swaging tool. that will reduce the diheaders become enlarged in diameter due to the Iameterof an enlarged tubev end to its original severe'cold working which they receive, and at 1,5 size. Another object is to provide a device of the same time the tube seats in the headers themthis kind that is portable and may be operated selves become correspondingly stretched. f When by one or two men. l it becomes necessary to remove the headers to Another yobject is to provide a swaging tool that replace tubes that are no longer serviceable, the may be used-v on furnace tubes while they are in normal ends of new tubes will be found to be too 20. place without requiring removal from the fursmall-in diameter to t the seats of the previnace. ously. used headers, and when replacing headers, Another Objectis to provide a tube swaging the normal size tube seats are too small in diamtool in which a plurality of die segments are eter to receive tubes which have been enlarged adapted to be moved axially of a die holder and by previous use. Also, when tube ends are 2,5.. also radially therein to permit installation and shrunk so that they may be removed from the operation with a 'minimum of external adjustheader to replace an adjacent tube, the tube end ments and parts. 7 is often forced out-of-round. These and other objects and advantages will Heretofore replacement headers have been be apparent from the following description and specially'rebored over-size to allow not only for 30'. from the accompanying drawing which forms a the expansion of the tube end but also for the part of this specication and illustrates a preout-of-roundness, making it necessary to have ferred embodiment of this invention. a very-loose t between the tube and its seat in In the. drawing.. the header. Since the elects are cumulative, Figure l vis a longitudinal and part sectional tubes that have been rolled into two or three 35; view of a device embodying this invention in headers or have been rerolled because of leaks are place on a tube that is to beswaged to its normal considerably expanded, frequently one-fourth diameter. inch or more oversize. The tube and walls are Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on line alsoundesirably thinned by both the increase in II-II of Figure 1 showing the die segments and diameter and -by the flow of metal set up during l0z the adjusting sleeve therefor with the segments the rolling operations. in their contracted position.

This invention is primarily but not exclusively Figure 3 is a transverse sectional -view on line applicable to the reconditioning of expanded or III-IIIof Figure 1 showing the axial position enlarged tube ends in place in a furnace. Usof the anvil within the yoke frame of the device.

ually a tube eXtendS Onlr a feWnCheS through its 4 5; Figure 4 is lan= enlarged longitudinal sectional supporting tube Sheet and iS Closely surrounded View illustrating the configuration and arrangeby other tubes and their connecting headers. ment of the die segments.

For this reason any tool which may be used for Referring to the drawing, and particularly to such reconditioning is required to be portable, Figure 1, reference numeral I0 illustrates a tube COmpaCt and adapted t0 be llSed in Confined 10- 50 Whichis supported by means Such as sheet; Il s0 cations and with a minimum 0f auXlia-ry power that a few inches of the outer end of the tube for itsoperation. project outwardly from the furnace or other This invention comprehends broadly a die structure in which the tube is mounted.- To ilholder which is generally cylindrical and elonlustrate the conned nature of thespace between gated and is adapted to be placed over the en- 55) tubes, a fragmentary view -of a second tube I2 cesses 22 for a purpose with a header I3 is shown immediately below tube I0. Other tubes and headers, not-shown, may entirely surround the tube I0. Due to frequent removal andreplacement of headers, or to other causes, the outer end of tube I has been enlarged as indicated at I4 so that its outside diameter is no longer the same as the normal diameter of tube III.

The tub-e end reducing apparatus of this example consists essentially of a cylindrical, elongated die holder throughout the greater the outer end of bore I6 is an inwardly tapered shoulder I1 against which the die segments I8 are adapted to seat when they are in their contracted position. Desirably, die segments I8 are of the form shown in Figure 4, having an outer tapered face I9, which is adapted to seat on and be supported by the inwardly tapered shoulder I1 of die holder I5, and a generally cylindrical portion 26. The cylindrical portion 20 of each segment is desirably recessed radially as at 2l to form notches which cooperate with corresponding notches in adjacent segments to provide rewhich will be explained below. The inner faces 23 of segments I8 are desirably tapered as illustrated in Figure 4 and form the actual contact faces which engage with the enlarged portion I4 of tube I8 to draw the latter down to its normal diameter. For convenience in holding the segments in their assembled position and to insure that they will expand uniformly outwardly when they are drawn into bore I6 of die holder I5, an annular recess 24 may be provided within the segment assembly f for the reception of a circular spring 25 (Figure 1). v

In order to move the die segment assembly axially within bore I6 of die holder I5 and to insure that it will contact the inwardly tapered shoulder I1 throughout the circumference of the segments, an adjusting sleeve 26 is provided within holder I and is tted at its outer end with a plurality of radial keys 21 that engage notches 22 of the die segment assembly. This will permit radial inward and outward motion of the segments as they are expanded into bore I6 or contracted against shoulder I1.

I5 provided with a bore I6 portion of its length. At

the hydraulic jack 44, or whatever I8 when they are in their contracted position. The opposite face of anvil 31 may be recessed as at 39 to receive spacer members 40 and 4I which are guided by the bores of flange 33 and guide bushing 36 to maintain the anvil in a truly axial position with respect to yoke 29 and tube I0. An auxiliary guide flange 42 may be provided within adjusting sleeve 26. In addition to these guides, aring 43 for spacer 4I may be positioned between and supported by the flat bar members 3I.

In this example the motive power or expansible means for forcing anvil 31 against the end face of tube I8 consists of a conventional hydraulic jack 44 which is adapted to seat on cross-member 32 of yoke 23 and to have its ram element 45 received in recess 46 of spacer 4I.

In operation, adjusting sleeve 26 is withdrawn slightly from die holder I5 so that die segments I8 will be in their expanded and circumferentially separated position within bore I6 of the holder. lIhe expanded die thus formed and the outer end of the holder are then placed over the enlarged `portion I4 of tube I0 so that they surround the normal or undistorted portion of that tube. Adjusting sleeve 26 is then forced into die holder I5 so that the die segments I8 are seated on the inwardly tapered shoulder I1, the radial notches 22 and keys 21 permitting this inward and circumferential contraction of the die segments. Flange 33 and guide bushing 36 are seated against sleeve 26 and are secured by means of nuts on studs 34.

After the anvil spacers 46 and 4I are inserted, expansible means are used for this purpose, is inserted in yoke 29 and is actuated to force the enlarged head 38 of anvil 31 against the end face of tube I0 expelling the latter from the constricted bore formed by the die segments I8 within holder I5 and contracting the tube to a predetermined or desirably its normal diameter. It is desirable to place a lubricant such as graphite and oil upon the inner face of die segments I8 and on the outer surface of the enlarged end I4 of tube I0 which will prevent undue friction and abrasion of these parts. Also, if `the tube is greatly enlarged it may be necessary to provide die segments of different radial thickness so that several The inner end of die holder I5 is preferably connected by means such as a threaded joint 28 to an axial yoke 29, a part of which may be cylindrical as at 30 and the remainderof which may consist of opposed flat bars or members 3| connected at their outer ends by a cross-member 32. At the junction of bars 3I with cylinder 30 of yoke 29 there is positioned a flange 33 which may be adjustably secured to the end face of cylinder 30 by means of studs 34 and nuts 35. Adjusting sleeve tially throughout cylindrical portion 30 of yoke 29 and is centered by means of a guide bushing 36, against the outer face of which flange 33 is adapted to be secured by means of studs 34 and nuts 35.

In order` to force die segments I8 and die holder I5 outwardly over the enlarged end I4 of tube I0, expansible means are provided within yoke 29 that will engage the outer end face of tube II] and the cross-member 32 of yoke 29 to force them apart. In this embodiment and for convenience of operation these means consist essentially of an anvil 31 provided with an enlarged head 38 that Contacts the end face of tube I0 and is slightly smaller thanthe normal diameter of tubel I0 so that it may pass through die segments 26 desirably extends substanpasses of the die over` the enlarged end may be made. With the construction shown, however, it is possible to make the reduction in a series of steps, by suitable adjustment of sleeve 26 to advance the segments I8 progressively into holder I5 and against the tapered shoulder I1.

In conclusion, it will be appreciated that a new 'and improved form of tool for this purpose has been provided in the example described and illustrated. Obviously numerous changes could be made withoutdeparting from the invention and all such changes that come within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby. I claim:

l. Means for reducing the diameter of an en- ,A larged end of a ductile metallic tube, such as an oil heater tube projecting outwardly from a furnace, comprising an elongated die holder adapted to be placed over the enlarged tube from its outer end, a plurality of die segments in said holder and selectively adapted to be expanded to pass over the enlarged portion of said tube and to be contracted to the normal diameter of said tube beyond the enlarged portion thereof, and means engageable with the end face of said tube to exert a force thereagainst for drawing said die holder with said die segments in their contracted position toward the end of said tube to contract the enlarged portion thereof.

2. Means for reducing the diameter of an enlarged end of a ductile metallic tube, such as an oil heater tube projecting outwardly from a furnace, comprising a circumferential die holder adapted to be placed over the enlarged tube from its outer end, a plurality of die segments adapted to be positioned Within said die holder in an expanded position, an inwardly tapered shoulder said tube to reduce to a predetermined die holder, and in which said die holder drawing means are extensible and are adapted to be positioned between said yoke and the outer end face of said tube.

4. Means for reducing the diameter of an enlarged end of a ductile metallic tube, such as an oil heater tube projecting outwardly from a furnace, comprising a circumferential die holder adapted to be placed over the enlarged tube from its outer end, a plurality of die segments in said holder and selectively adapted to be expanded to pass over the enlarged portion of said tube and t be contracted substantially to the normal diameter of said tube, and a yoke extending axially from said holder, said yoke adapted to receive an expansible means that will engage the outer end face of said tube to force said die holder and said segments toward the enlarged end` of said tube to contract the same.

5. Means for reducing the diameter of an enlarged tube end according to claim 4, with the addition of axially movable means in said yoke, one end of said means adapted to engage the outer end face of said tube and the other end adapted to receive said expansible means to be moved thereby, and guide means in said yoke for said axially movable means.

6. Means for reducing the diameter of an enlarged tube end according to claim 4, with the addition of an axially movable anvil in said yoke, one end of said anvil adapted to engage the outer end face of said tube and the other end adapted to receive said expansible means to be moved thereby, and separately adjustable means in said yoke and outside of said anvil to position said die segments in expanded and contracted position.

7. Means for reducing the diameter of an enlarged end of a ductile metallic tube, such as an oil heater tube projecting outwardly from a furnace, comprising a generally cylindrical die holder adapted to be placed over the enlarged tube from its outer end, a plurality of die segments adapted to be positioned within said die holder in an expanded position, an inwardly tapered shoulder in said die holdernear the outer a sleeve in said die holder, radial slots and keys connecting said sleeve to said segments to permit radial motion of said segments, said sleeve being movable axially of said holder to position said segments in a contracted position against said tapered shoulder and closely surand said contracted segments toward the end of said tube to reduce the enlarged portion thereof to a predetermined diameter.

8. Means for reducing the diameter of an enlarged tube end according to claim 7 with the addition of a yoke extending axially from said die holder, and in which said die holder urging means engage said yoke and the end face of said tube, respectively, for the purpose described.

9. Means for reducing the diameter of an enlarged end of a ductile metal tube, such as an oil heater tube projecting outwardly from a furnace, comprising a die holder adapted forming an expansible and contractible circular die at the outer end of said holder, means forming a yoke extending axially from said holder to receive an expansible means, such as a jack, and an axially aligned anvil in said yoke adapted to engage the end face of said tube and to be forced against said face by said expansible means to force the enlarged end of said tube into and through said die to reduce the diameter of said tube end.

l0. Means for reducing the diameter of an enlarged tube end according to claim 9 With the addition of separate means in said die holder for selectively positioning said die in expanded and contracted position.

11. Means for reducing the diameter of an enlarged end of a ductile metallic tube, such as an oil heater tube projecting outwardly from a furnace, comprising a die holder adapted to be placed over the end of said tube, a segmental die in said holder having a bore smaller than the outer diameter of the enlarged portion of said tube, and means engageable with the outer end face of said tube to force said holder and die outwardly along said tube to contract the enlarged portion thereof.

CHARLES F. TUTTLE.

to be placed over,k the enlarged tube from its outer end, means 

